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Virgin Galactic helps launch Spaceport Sweden

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Spaceport Sweden was officially inaugurated on Friday, thanks, in large part, to a partnership with Virgin Galactic that would make it the first spaceport outside the United States used by the company. Virgin Galactic says it plans to make New Mexico its worldwide headquarters as it launches paying passengers into space from Spaceport America, located 45 miles northeast of Las Cruces. The company’s commitment is only verbal at this point, but state officials hope to have something on paper in a couple of months. The state and company have been working for months with an architect on preliminary plans for the facility. Virgin Galactic’s commitment to New Mexico is what makes the state’s spaceport dream possible. Continue Reading

ABQ Journal’s Richardson biography continues

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The Albuquerque Journal continued its in-depth biography of Richardson with part two of the series on Sunday, which highlighted the governor’s career in Congress. Click here to read the main article, and here to read a short sidebar about his work on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad and how it proved his ability to negotiate compromise. Continue Reading

Growth is going to happen, so it’s important to work together and make sure it’s done well

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By Bill McCamley If you ask residents about their biggest local concern, they will likely reply with the issue of growth management. More people are moving here as word of our great weather, wonderful food, friendly people and low cost of living spread across the country. But as growth happens, how can we ensure that it affects our community positively? A moratorium on growth is not a compelling option from either an economic standpoint or a philosophical one. A moratorium would hurt many working people who rely on construction, real-estate or other related businesses for their livelihood. Continue Reading

Women appear to have large bases of support for school board bids, non-scientific polls suggest

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If non-scientific polls on this site are any indication, two women appear to have significant bases of support for their bids to become new members of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. Of 131 votes cast in last week’s poll about the District 4 race, 105, or 80 percent, went to Bonnie Votaw, while 26, or 20 percent, went to Larry Garcia. The seat is being vacated by Board Member John Schwebke Of 125 votes cast in last week’s poll about the District 5 race, 91, or 73 percent, went to newcomer Connie Phillips, while 22, or 18 percent, went to newcomer David Morgan. Incumbent Sharon Wooden received 12 votes, or 10 percent. Votaw and Phillips are appearing together at forums and being promoted together by many supporters in their bids to be elected to the school board. Continue Reading

Catholic leaders want limits on stem cell research

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The state’s Catholic bishops want to limit state spending on stem cell research to experimenting only with cells that don’t involve the destruction of embryos, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe and Bishops Ricardo Ramirez of the Diocese of Las Cruces and Donald Pelotte of the Diocese of Gallup met with Richardson on Thursday to share their concerns. “We very much favor research that helps find cures for diseases, as long as it doesn’t involve the destruction of human life,” the Journal quoted Sheehan as saying. The governor announced in October that he wants to allocate $10 million over the next three years to fund a stem cell research center at the University of New Mexico. The first phase of that plan – $3.8 million to fund construction of a building and $2.2 million in other funds – is proposed by Richardson in this year’s budget. Continue Reading

Richardson: Confederate flag should come down

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After declining to take a position during a visit to South Carolina earlier this month, Gov. Bill Richardson is now taking a stand against the Confederate flag flying on South Carolina’s capitol grounds, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Richardson’s comments are sure to have an effect on his support in the state, one of the first four in the nation to hold a presidential primary in January 2008. While in South Carolina over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Richardson would not answer questions about the controversy that has been brewing in that state. At the same time, U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, another presidential hopeful, came out against flying the flag at the capitol. So the New Mexican sought comment from the governor, and he gave it Thursday. Continue Reading

Evans expects full recovery from colon cancer

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The tumor removed from Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans’ colon earlier this week was malignant, but the cancer had not spread and doctors are confident they removed it all, his wife Anna Mae said. As an additional precaution, Evans will undergo chemotherapy, she said. “It’s very encouraging. It looks like he’ll be just fine,” Anna Mae Evans said. “The tumor was self-contained. Continue Reading

Jon Stewart says Richardson is Batman

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I’ve been waiting for this video clip to show up on the Internet before I wrote about this. For those of you who don’t watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, here’s his take on Gov. Bill Richardson’s promotion of his diverse experience, which is Richardson’s attempt to set himself apart from the other 2008 presidential contenders. It’s part of a commentary on the Republican and Democratic contenders, and the portion on Richardson doesn’t appear until about 90 seconds in, but it’s pretty funny. Continue Reading

Albuquerque mayor appointed to DNC seat

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has been appointed to an at-large seat on the Democratic National Committee, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Chávez was notified of the appointment this week by DNC Chairman Howard Dean while in Washington for a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Chávez has been a high-profile mayor in recent months on national issues that include the environment and water supplies. The appointment boosts Chávez’s potential 2010 run for governor and, Chávez told the Journal, the presidential bid of Gov. Bill Richardson, who he supports. The DNC runs the national party, promotes candidates and plans presidential nominating conventions. Continue Reading

Process to replace Tsosie continues

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The McKinley County Commission has recommended its own chairman, Billy Moore, to replace Leonard Tsosie in the state Senate, the Associated Press is reporting. Commissioners voted unanimously to nominate the Democrat to replace Tsosie, who resigned earlier this week to become a Navajo Nation Council delegate. Senate District 22 represents parts of five counties, so four must still recommend names before Gov. Bill Richardson can choose from among them. Richardson has asked the commissions to make recommendations by Friday. Three others expressed interest in the position, the news service reported: former state Public Regulation Commissioner Lynda Lovejoy, Tsosie’s brother Lester Tsosie, and Joshua Madalena of the Jemez Pueblo, who is the brother of state Rep. Roger Magdalena. Continue Reading

Local legislators tackle interesting topics

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I’ve written about several already, but here is a rundown of some other interesting proposals made by Doña Ana County’s lawmakers in the 2007 legislative session: Outlawing cell phones while driving Rep. Antonio Lujan, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 241, which would outlaw talking on a cell phone while driving in New Mexico. Talking on a cell phone while driving is illegal in the Santa Fe city limits, but the city has an exemption for hands-free devices. Lujan’s proposal does not include an exemption for the use of hands-free devices. The penalty would be a $30 fine. Same-day voter registration Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has introduced House Bill 394, which would allow same-day registration and voting in primary and general elections in New Mexico. Continue Reading

D.C. publication discusses Domenici’s health

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The health of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is the topic of a current article in a prominent Washington publication. The Politico ran an article today discussing the fact that the average age of members of the U.S. Senate is older than it has ever been, and addressing concerns that, “for many senators, advanced age is starting to show, raising questions about their ability to govern.” Though the article focuses on several aging senators, it devotes significant time to Domenici. Rumors have spread for months that Domenici might not seek another term because of poor health, but the senator insists he will run for re-election in 2008. The article points out that, until he retired last month, former Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. and a heart surgeon, was being consulted for medical advice by two dozen colleagues, including Domenici, who once flew on Frist’s private jet for treatment at the Frist Clinic in Nashville. Continue Reading

Richardson to announce support for spaceport tax increase during a visit to Las Cruces on Monday

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Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday will make his first trip to Las Cruces since announcing that he’s running for president. Richardson will be in town to announce his support for a proposed 1/4 percent gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. Richardson is scheduled to speak in front of a group of students at Vista Middle School, 4465 Elks Drive in Las Cruces, at sometime between 2:30 and 3 p.m. An election on whether to increase the tax in Doña Ana County is tentatively set for April 3, though the county commission must formalize that in a vote that will be held early next month. If the tax is approved, 75 percent of revenue will go directly to spaceport infrastructure and operations, and 25 percent will come back to Doña Ana County to be invested in related projects. Commissioner Bill McCamley has proposed using that money to create space academies at area high schools that would help prepare students to go on to New Mexico State University’s aerospace engineering program or a related field and then work in the space industry. Continue Reading